Frankfurt am Main

Frankfurt am Main, often known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany. The city was founded as Vadum Francorum in 146 CE by the Franks, and its name comes from the fact that its Frankish founders built it near a ford of the Main River. In 1372, Frankfurt became a free city of the Holy Roman Empire, and it became the location of the coronation of German kings and emperors from 1562 to 1792. Frankfurt would evolve into an alpha world city during the 20th century, and it became the financial center of continental Europe, as well as home to the largest motor show, book fair, and internet exchange points in the world. In 2015, Frankfurt's urban area had a population of 2,319,029 people, with 51.2% being of immigrant background.